Blessed Are Those Whose Way Is Blameless

Psalm 119:1-8                                                                                                               Kevin E. Jesmer

Key Verse: 119:1                                                                                                            5-31-21

“Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord!” (ESV)

     Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. It is a devotional poem which is an acrostic (in Hebrew). It is focused on God who speaks and works through his word. Every verse contains some reference to the word of God.

Part 1: The Blessed Person (1-3)

     The first three verses are an introduction to the whole. They tell us that the blessed person is the one who seeks God with all his heart by obeying God’s word.  Verses 1-3 read, “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! 2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart 3 who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!”

       We always want to be blessed and to be a blessed person. We try hard to find a state of blessedness in our own way, but we eventually discover that we are unable to be blessed. We are helpless to find what we are looking for. But that does not mean we give up hope to ever be declared blessed. When we were helpless, Christ made a way possible.

     We learn that the blessed person is the one who seeks God with all his heart by obeying God’s word. This reminds me of Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” When we make seeking the Lord the top priority of our lives, then God blesses us with heavenly joy.

     But some may be thinking that they are helpless to seek God with their whole heart continuously. It is a tall order. Nobody can keep up with that amount of spiritual intensity with their own strength. Some may appear to stay focused for years, but eventually they slow down and fade. But if even the most disciplined spiritual person cannot keep up the whole hearted struggle to follow Jesus, then what hope do I have, or anyone for that matter? But there is good news.

      Christ makes us blameless. Jesus died on the cross and shed his blood on the cross for our sins. When we repent of our sins and place all of our faith, hope and trust in him and his Gospel, suddenly we are completely forgiven and we are made blameless before the eyes of God. Jesus shed blood fulfills the requirements of the law. We are 100% blessed. Accept it. God is not just tolerating your or just putting up with you or simply obligated to save you. He has forgiven you and accepted you as his child. Your sins are forgiven.  Now we don’t need to despair. We can have full confidence that he will accept us and with that, bring us home to be with him forever.

     Saying that Christ makes us blameless is not a cop out. It is a reality to be believed. We are not advocating giving up a devoted life. We are not trying to get out of obeying God. We simply obey for other reasons. We rejoice in our salvation.  Obedience in our expression of praise to the God who saved us. It is our act of worship.

      In Psalm 1:1-3, we see that state of blessedness comes when we meditate and delight in the word of God. It reads, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers” There is heavenly fruit born when we delight in the word of God.

     I have been getting sidetracked lately with all kinds of other interesting things, mostly writing things and keeping up on my hometown Facebook page, that now has 3,100 members. I have neglected seeking Jesus with my whole heart. And I suffered for it. I really need to have a daily devotion to God. May God accept my writings on Psalm 119 as my repentance and my sincere desire to come to Jesus.

Part 2: A Prayer for Mercy (4-8)

Verses 4-8 read, “4 You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. 5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! 6 Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. 7 I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules. 8 I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!”

     Verses 4-8 are a prayer. The psalmist knows that God’s laws are to be obeyed, but he is aware of his weakness and failure to do so. He longs to please God by a life of obedience and asks God’s mercy and help. I can see that the writer is filled with godly sorrow for a while. But all that will change as he comes to Christ.

     We may fall into despair from time. This happens. But as believers we don’t have to sit there in our despair. We have been given power by God, through his word and Spirit, to shake off the shackles of despair and be filled with heavenly hope and power to move forward in Christ. God also works through our sorrow. The Bible says that godly sorrow leads to repentance and this leads to salvation. 2 Corinthians 7:10, “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.”  False sorrow and sitting in it, without repentance, leads to destruction. But that does not need to be our end.

     God helps us. This is part of God’s grace. Without his grace it would be a pretty high first rung of a ladder for anyone to step onto. But with grace and faith, that first rung of the ladder is attainable to any who repent and believe and are made blameless by Jesus.

Prayer: “Dear Lord heavenly Father, thank you for making me blameless through faith in the shed blood of Jesus. I was suffering because I was always sidetracked by worldly things and neglected your word. Help me to get back on track and seek you with all my heart.”

One Word: Jesus makes me blameless and empowers me to seek him. He makes me blessed.